World Bank President David Malpass announced on Monday that he was preparing $170 billion in aid over 15 months to help countries cope with multiple crises, including the food and humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. .
“We are preparing for a continuous response, given the multiple crises” around the world, he told reporters at the launch of the Spring Meetings.
He cited in particular food insecurity and the refugee crisis linked to the war in Ukraine. Millions of people, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine to escape Russian attacks.
“Over the next few weeks, I plan to discuss with our Board of Directors a new envelope of approximately $170 billion spread over 15 months to cover the period from April 2022 to June 2023,” said he specified. He added that the goal was to “commit some $50 billion of that over the next three months.”
This envelope is substantial, he noted, recalling, by way of comparison, that the board of directors had approved in 2020 the release of 157 billion dollars to face the crisis caused by the pandemic.
These crises significantly slow down global growth, he also underlined. The World Bank is now counting on growth of 3.2% this year against 4.1%, as had been forecast in January.
The International Monetary Fund will publish its new projections on Tuesday.
David Malpass also said he was particularly worried about the indebtedness of poor countries. “We expect the debt crisis to continue to worsen in 2022,” he said, noting that these countries were under “severe financial strains.” In total, 60% of low-income countries are already in debt distress or at high risk of debt distress.
Last week, David Malpass once again called for improving the common G20 framework for debt restructuring. He then suggested “the establishment of a timetable allowing the creditors’ committee to suspend debt service payments and penalty interest by broadening eligibility”. He also recommended involving private creditors early in the restructuring process.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, rich G20 countries offered poor countries a moratorium on debt service payments until the end of 2020 before extending it until the end of 2021 .
In parallel with this initiative to suspend debt service, they had created, in November 2020, a “common framework” intended to restructure, or even cancel the debt of countries that request it. But for now, private creditors, particularly Chinese, are holding back its implementation.
A G20 will be held on Wednesday, and this issue should be addressed there.
The spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank are being held this week, semi-virtually. Small country delegations are expected in Washington, but press conferences are virtual only.